Singapore and Egypt Deepen Bilateral Cooperation with Seven New Memoranda of Understanding

Singapore and Egypt have significantly strengthened their bilateral cooperation with the signing of seven Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) during a state visit to Cairo by Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam. The agreements, witnessed by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi on September 20, 2025, signal a robust commitment to expanding collaboration across a diverse range of critical sectors.

The MoUs cover key areas including maritime cooperation, economic partnerships with a focus on ports and digitalization, support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and startups, social protection initiatives, health sector collaboration, agricultural advancements, and public sector training and development. These agreements build upon a long-standing relationship between the two nations, with diplomatic ties set to reach their 60th anniversary in 2026. Egypt was notably the first Arab country to recognize Singapore's independence in 1965.

In the maritime domain, an MoU aims to create an interactive digital map for Egypt's Maritime and Transport Sector, detailing logistics corridors, ports, and industrial zones. Economic partnership will be fostered through cooperation in ports, maritime sectors, cybersecurity, and digitalization, with a specific focus on transforming West Port Said into a smart port. Support for SMEs and startups will be enhanced through digitalization of Egypt's MSME National Platform and advisory services on national strategies.

The health sector will see increased collaboration, focusing on areas such as the prevention of non-communicable diseases, hospital information systems, and innovative healthcare solutions. In agriculture, cooperation will aim to improve the productivity and resilience of rice cultivation, particularly in reclaimed desert lands, and develop climate-ready rice varieties. Furthermore, capacity building within the public sector will be bolstered through knowledge exchange between Singapore's Civil Service College and Egypt's National Training Academy.

Discussions also touched upon the potential for a free trade agreement between Singapore and Egypt, a move seen as timely to leverage the complementary strengths and strategic locations of both countries. This exploration follows earlier initiatives, including a Declaration of Intent signed in 2006 to negotiate a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement. Bilateral trade in services between Singapore and Egypt reached over S$1.3 billion as of 2023, with Singapore being one of the largest Asian investors in Egypt over the past decade.

The visit also highlighted Singapore's humanitarian assistance for Gaza, facilitated by Egypt, underscoring a shared commitment to regional stability and support. Singapore was the first foreign country permitted by Egypt to deploy doctors to its hospitals for specialist medical care for Palestinian civilians. These comprehensive agreements and ongoing dialogues reflect a shared vision to deepen strategic ties and unlock new avenues for mutual growth and development, reinforcing the enduring friendship between Singapore and Egypt.